Pollution

U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe asked the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a court settlement that passed and required the EPA to set new particulate matter standards that are due by December 14, 2012, Tulsa World reports. The original settlement was between a coalition of 11 states, who pursued a lawsuit against the agency for failing to place new air quality standards.

The senator asked the administration to delay decision-making until one year after the EPA inspector general’s office completes an ongoing investigation on what he referred to as "alarming evidence of EPA abuse of scientific information and mismanagement of its Clear Air Act Scientific Advisory Committee," according to the news source.

"The proposed settlement provides ammunition to EPA critics who charge that the agency manipulates regulatory litigation to thwart public comment and interagency review," Inhofe wrote.

As the air quality standards continue to remain under debate, homeowners can protect themselves and their loved ones by investing in a medical-grade home air purifier. A unit such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier can reduce the presence of indoor air pollutants.

A Washington-led plan to cut soot and other air pollution has gained the support of seven other nations. According to senior U.S. officials, the effort is being made to "buy time" and develop a solution to the world’s growing pollution problem, Reuters reports.

Seven countries have formally backed the plan - Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and Jordan. The U.S.-led Climate and Clean Air Initiative has increased membership since the plan was initiated in February 2012.

"If we are able to do this we could really buy time in the context of the global problem to combat climate change," said Jonathan Pershing, U.S. deputy special envoy for climate change, according to the news source.

As global warming continues to worry world leaders, strategies are being crafted to reduce soot pollution, heat-trapping methane, ground level ozone and HFC gases. These and other common toxins have a direct impact on air quality in a region. According to the experts, air pollution may be responsible for about six million deaths a year.

Homeowners concerned about the impact of air pollution on their direct health can invest in IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers. The medical-grade machines can reduce the presence of common toxins indoors and help keep residents happy and healthy.

State and federal agencies are serious about curbing air pollution levels across the United States. Chevron USA Inc. will pay a civil penalty of $231,875 following a settlement over the organization’s alleged violations of air pollution laws, Legal Newsline reports.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Protection Agency filed complaints against the business that claimed the Perth Amboy asphalt refinery violated state and federal air quality standards. The fine may be all that is needed to ensure the corporation invests in the new technology required to reduce pollution output.

"We are committed to working with DEP to ensure compliance with New Jersey's air quality and other pollution control laws," Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said in a statement, according to the news source. "This collaborative effort is critical to protecting our environment and preserving the quality of life of New Jersey residents."

Homeowners in the vicinity of plants can invest in a home air purifier to reduce the presence of particulate matter indoors. IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers can improve the air quality within a home, which will support a more healthy lifestyle for everyone in the family.

The oppressive heat wave cascading across the United States has impacted everything from agriculture to community pools. While these sectors are important, understanding how high temperatures are affecting air quality is also vital.

Many counties across the nation are warning residents of poor air quality as a result of high ozone levels. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, high ozone levels can cause respiratory issues such as coughing, throat irritation, pain, burning, chest discomfort when breathing, shortness of breath and wheezing.

"[Ozone] hurts not just people and their lungs but it can damage buildings and plants, just about anything it comes into contact with for a long period of time," Environmental Health and Lab Manager Jim Steinhoff told WXOW News 19.

Homeowners concerned about the impact of high ozone can invest in a home air purifier. Medical-grade units such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier improves indoor air quality by removing fine particulate matter and pollutants that remain close to the ground when heat levels are high.

Upgrades to the government-owned electric utility company in Orlando have been suspended. For the past few years, officials crafted plans to spend approximately $100 million to improve the efficiency of the plant, however, court battles and uncertain federal legislation have delayed the project, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Without clear and definable standards, the Orlando Utilities Commission is wary of starting the process of upgrading the power plant. While officials wish to reduce pollution, stating the improvements could improve air quality all the way to Texas, unexpected costs accruing from new standards could harm the success of the project, according to the news source. As a result, the improvements to the plant are on hold until federal standards are clearly defined and settled on.

"It's astonishing to people sometimes how far pollution can blow," Janice Nolen, the association's assistant vice president of national policy and advocacy, told the news source. "No matter how much some states want to clean up their air, and a lot of states do, they can't because of the pollution coming across their line. This really is a problem that needs to be addressed with a cross-state rule."

Air pollution is not an issue that impacts just one region. The negative health effects associated with fine particulate matter produced by plants can stretch out across the country. Consequently, homeowners concerned about air quality can invest in the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier.

The summer haze is getting thick enough to obscure the view of the United State’s greatest natural treasures. Millions of Americans travel to the nation’s parks to see the sights. In fact, over nine million people will visit the Great Smokey Mountains in 2012 if yearly indicators are correct, The New York Times reports. However, many people may be unable to see a clear picture of the rolling mountainsides due to smog created from modern industry.

The Clean Air Act and other legislation is attempting to reduce the presence of harmful toxins in the air to improve the health of Americans and allow the nation’s greatest treasures to remain safe and visible.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act Amendments will prevent the early death of over 230,000 Americans in 2020. While legislation is helping to improve air quality outdoors, consider investing in a home air purifier to reduce the presence of fine particulate matter indoors. IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers can drastically improve air quality in a home.

A new medical study by Otago University researchers in Wellington, New Zealand has found that cigarettes significantly increase air pollution. The study lasted five weeks and measured fine particulate matter linked to heart disease, decreased lung function and lung cancer, reports the New Zealand Herald.

Air quality tests were conducted around 284 smokers at a shopping center at an average distance of about 8.5 feet. According to the research, air quality at that distance featured 70 percent more fine particles than areas with no smokers around. The mean pollution level measured near a smoker standing at a bus stop was 16 times higher than when there were no smokers present.

''[Smoking is] adding to air pollution. People are being exposed to this all the time, as well as industry pollution and home fires," said associate professor Nick Wilson, according to the news source.

Homeowners living with a smoker or near neighbors that consume cigarettes can invest in a home air purifier to reduce the presence of harmful toxins.

Wisconsin may seldom be mentioned when it comes to air pollution standards, but the state has recently been taking strides to reduce the production of harmful pollutants by factories and other industrial companies. Environmental Protection reported the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) that will blanket power plants in Alma and Genoa, Wisconsin. The DPC will spend $150 million to improve pollution control technology.

"This settlement will improve air quality in Wisconsin and downwind areas by significantly reducing releases of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other harmful pollutants," said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin is expected to approve the settlement after a 30-day period. However, pollutants will still be leaked in some quantities, and even the strictest safety standards may not be able to prevent the release of harmful toxins. Those facing the risk of exposure to these and other harmful chemicals can invest in the IQAir GC MultiGas home air purifier. This device filters out everything from smog particles to allergens, and ensures the good health of any home occupant.

Health officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division have issued a code red air quality alert for Atlanta for June 29, 2012. The record high temperatures, stagnant wind and increased levels of humidity will create unhealthy smog levels in the surrounding metro area.

A code red signifies that everyone is at risk for respiratory problems due to the poor air quality. However, groups such as children, the elderly and those afflicted with asthma or other respiratory issues are particularly at risk.

Homeowners concerned about the negative impacts of poor air quality can invest in a home air purifier. Implementing the use of technology such as IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers can greatly reduce a person’s exposure to toxins and respiratory aggravators.

Even on days labeled as unhealthy due to the combination of air pollutions and environmental factors, a homeowner can stay safe in their house with a home air purifier.

The climate is not going to change in Atlanta, so make sure the right technology is taking care of you and your loved ones.

According to a new survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, apartment dwellers are more concerned about their air quality than homeowners. A mix of 1,000 home owners and renters were surveyed, and the results showed 16 percent more renter respondents seriously fear health threats posed by poor indoor air quality.

"It's possible that because some renters live very close to their neighbors, they worry not only about themselves but also what their neighbors are doing that might impact their safety," said Elissa Schuler-Adair, Ph.D., a manager of survey research at the Consumer Reports National Research Center. "Over 40 percent of renters said they were very concerned about exposure to indoor air pollutants from neighboring dwellings."

Renters concerned about indoor air quality can invest in a home air purifier to reduce the presence of toxins. Dandruff, smoke and allergens created by previous tenants are often undetectable. However, the effects can be pronounced. Asthma and allergies are easily aggravated by the negative influence of these toxins.